Micro Dosing Dispensing System

Abstract

A dispensing nozzle comprises a dispensing nozzle manifold. The manifold comprises orifices. Each orifice comprises a port and a corresponding conduit. The manifold comprises at least a first orifice configured to receive a first diluent, and at least a second diluent orifice configured to receive a second diluent, and at least two free-flowing food component orifices. The dispensing nozzle manifold comprises a top, middle, and bottom portions. The plurality of orifices is located at the top portion. The middle portion comprises a first set of conduits, each conduit of the first set of conduits corresponding to a port. The bottom portion comprises a funnel. The dispensing nozzle is configured so that a diluent received in the funnel mixes with at least one free-flowing food component before the received diluent and the at least one free-flowing food component exit the dispensing nozzle.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A dispensing nozzle comprising:
 a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion; and   a dispensing nozzle manifold comprising a plurality of orifices, wherein each orifice comprises a corresponding port and a corresponding conduit;   the dispensing nozzle manifold comprising at least a first orifice configured to receive a first diluent, and at least a second diluent orifice configured to receive a second diluent, and at least two free-flowing food component orifices configured to receive free-flowing food components;   wherein the top portion of the dispensing nozzle comprises a plurality of ports, each port corresponding to an orifice of the plurality of orifices;   wherein the middle portion of the dispensing nozzle comprises a first set of conduits, each conduit of the first set of conduits corresponding to a port;   wherein the bottom portion of the dispensing nozzle comprises a funnel having a side wall;   the funnel configured to receive at least the first diluent and/or the second diluent, and allow the received diluent to flow downwardly and in a swirling path along the side wall of the funnel and mix with at least one free-flowing food component before the received diluent and the at least one free-flowing food component exit the dispensing nozzle.   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of ports is a first non-carbonated water port configured to receive non-carbonated water. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing nozzle of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of ports is a second non-carbonated water port configured to receive non-carbonated water, wherein the first and second non-carbonated water ports are located on a ring of the top portion of the dispensing nozzle and are on opposite each other. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of ports is a first carbonated water port configured to receive carbonated water. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing nozzle of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the plurality of ports is a second carbonated water port configured to receive carbonated water, wherein the first and second carbonated water ports are located on a ring of the top portion of the dispensing nozzle and are on opposite each other. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing nozzle of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the plurality of ports is a first non-carbonated water port configured to receive non-carbonated water, and at least one of the plurality of ports is a second non-carbonated water port configured to receive non-carbonated water, wherein the first and second non-carbonated water ports are located on a ring of the top portion of the dispensing nozzle and are on opposite each other. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing nozzle of  claim 6 , wherein plurality of ports further comprises dosing ports, wherein each dosing port is configured to receive a free-flowing food component, wherein the dosing ports are smaller than the first and second carbonated water ports, and smaller than the first and second non-carbonated water ports. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing nozzle of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of ports further comprises sweetener ports, wherein each sweetener port is configured to receive a sweetener. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing nozzle of  claim 8 , wherein at least one sweetener port is configured to receive a nutritive sweetener. 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing nozzle of  claim 8 , wherein at least one sweetener port is configured to receive a non-nutritive sweetener. 
     
     
         11 . The dispensing nozzle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first diffuser having a first diffuser ring and first diffuser conduits, the first diffuser ring configured to receive the first diluent, and second diffuser ring and second diffuser conduits, the second diffuser ring configured to receive the second diluent, the second diffuser ring configured to receive the second diluent.   
     
     
         12 . The dispenser nozzle of  claim 11 , wherein the first diluent comprises non-carbonated water and the second diluent comprise carbonated water. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser nozzle of  claim 11 , wherein either the first diffuser ring surrounds the second diffuser ring, or the second diffuser ring surrounds the first diffuser ring, wherein the first diluent comprises non-carbonated water and the second diluent comprise carbonated water. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser nozzle of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second diffusers are located below the conduits of the dispensing nozzle manifold. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser nozzle of  claim 14 , wherein the first diffuser ring comprises a first diffuser trough and first diffuser apertures configured to allow the first diluent to have a laminar flow path through a portion of the dispensing nozzle, wherein the second diffuser ring comprises a second diffuser trough and second diffuser apertures configured to allow the second diluent to have a laminar flow path through a portion of the dispensing nozzle. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser nozzle of  claim 15 , wherein
 the first diffuser comprises first diffuser channels configured to receive the first diluent through first diffuser slots, wherein the first diffuser slots are configured to receive the first diluent from the first diffuser trough via corresponding first diffuser apertures; and   the second diffuser comprises second diffuser channels configured to receive the second diluent through second diffuser slots, wherein the second diffuser slots are configured to receive the second diluent from the second diffuser trough via corresponding second diffuser apertures.   
     
     
         17 . The dispenser nozzle of  claim 16 , wherein
 the first diffuser channels are configured to direct first diluent flow downward and at an angle to produce downward, swirling laminar flow of the first diluent; and   the second diffuser channels are configured to direct second diluent flow downward and at an angle to produce downward, swirling laminar flow of the second diluent.   
     
     
         18 . The dispenser nozzle of  claim 17 , wherein each orifice of the dispensing nozzle manifold that corresponds to a free-flowing food component comprises an outlet having a splitter configured to split the flow of the free-flowing food component as it exits the dispensing nozzle manifold. 
     
     
         19 . A dispensing nozzle comprising:
 a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion; and   a dispensing nozzle manifold comprising a plurality of orifices, wherein each orifice comprises a corresponding port and a corresponding conduit;   the dispensing nozzle manifold comprising at least a first orifice configured to receive a first diluent, and at least a second diluent orifice configured to receive a second diluent, and at least two free-flowing food component orifices configured to receive free-flowing food components;   wherein the top portion of the dispensing nozzle comprises a plurality of ports, each port corresponding to an orifice of the plurality of orifices;   wherein the middle portion of the dispensing nozzle comprises a first set of conduits, each conduit of the first set of conduits corresponding to a port;   wherein the bottom portion of the dispensing nozzle comprises a funnel having a side wall;   the funnel configured to receive at least the first diluent and/or the second diluent, and allow the received diluent to flow downwardly and in a swirling path along the side wall of the funnel and mix with at least one free-flowing food component before the received diluent and the at least one free-flowing food component exit the dispensing nozzle;   wherein the dispensing nozzle manifold comprises a middle pathway having a top opening and a bottom opening, wherein the top opening is larger than the bottom opening of the middle pathway to facilitate placement and support of an ice cube chute in an appropriate position so that the ice cube chute does not drop below the bottom opening of the middle pathway;   wherein at least one of the plurality of ports is a first non-carbonated water port configured to receive non-carbonated water;   wherein at least one of the plurality of ports is a second non-carbonated water port configured to receive non-carbonated water; and   wherein the first and second non-carbonated water ports are located on a ring of the top portion of the dispensing nozzle and are on opposite each other.   
     
     
         20 . A dispenser comprising:
 an ice cube chute; and   a dispensing nozzle, the dispensing nozzle comprising a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion, and a dispensing nozzle manifold comprising a plurality of orifices, wherein each orifice comprises a corresponding port and a corresponding conduit;   the dispensing nozzle manifold comprising at least a first orifice configured to receive a first diluent, and at least a second diluent orifice configured to receive a second diluent, and at least two free-flowing food component orifices configured to receive free-flowing food components;   wherein the top portion of the dispensing nozzle comprises a plurality of ports, each port corresponding to an orifice of the plurality of orifices;   wherein the middle portion of the dispensing nozzle comprises a first set of conduits, each conduit of the first set of conduits corresponding to a port;   wherein the bottom portion of the dispensing nozzle comprises a funnel having a side wall;   the funnel configured to receive at least the first diluent and/or the second diluent, and allow the received diluent to flow downwardly and in a swirling path along the side wall of the funnel and mix with at least one free-flowing food component before the received diluent and the at least one free-flowing food component exit the dispensing nozzle;   wherein the dispensing nozzle manifold comprises a middle pathway having a top opening and a bottom opening, wherein the top opening is larger than the bottom opening of the middle pathway to facilitate placement and support of the ice cube chute in an appropriate position so that the ice cube chute does not drop below the bottom opening of the middle pathway;   wherein the ice chute comprises an ice funnel having a top opening and a bottom opening, wherein the ice funnel is configured to receive ice through the top opening and down through the bottom opening of the ice funnel;   wherein the ice tube funnel defines an air gap configured to reduce material from splashing back up through the top opening of the ice funnel.